Ryzen 5 3500X vs Ryzen 7 5700X

AMD

Ryzen 5 3500X

6 Cores6 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.1 GHz2019

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

Ryzen 7 5700X

8 Cores16 Thrd65 WWMax: 4.6 GHz2022

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Ryzen 5 3500X

2019

Why buy it

  • Costs $144 less on MSRP ($155 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Ryzen 7 5700X across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.
  • Lower PassMark (13,165 vs 26,609).

Ryzen 7 5700X

2022

Why buy it

  • Better for gaming: +67.8% higher average FPS across 2 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

  • 92.9% HIGHER MSRP
    $299 MSRPvs$155 MSRP

Quick Answers

So, is Ryzen 7 5700X better than Ryzen 5 3500X?
Yes. Ryzen 7 5700X is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 67.8% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data, 102.1% better PassMark, and the stronger long-term platform, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.
Which one is better for gaming?
If gaming is the priority, Ryzen 7 5700X is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 67.8% more average FPS across 2 shared CPU game tests.
Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?
For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Ryzen 7 5700X is the better fit. You are getting 102.1% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?
Ryzen 7 5700X is the smarter buy today. Ryzen 7 5700X is 92.9% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $155 MSRP, and it gives you a 67.8% average FPS lead across 2 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 4.8% better value on MSRP (89.0 vs 84.9 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Ryzen 7 5700X is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2019) and more multi-core headroom with 8 cores / 16 threads instead of 6/6. That extra compute headroom should age better as games, background tasks, and creator workloads get heavier.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetRyzen 5 3500XRyzen 7 5700X
1080p
low197 FPS156 FPS
medium159 FPS129 FPS
high133 FPS115 FPS
ultra103 FPS94 FPS
1440p
low154 FPS137 FPS
medium119 FPS111 FPS
high96 FPS95 FPS
ultra74 FPS78 FPS
4K
low70 FPS77 FPS
medium58 FPS67 FPS
high46 FPS55 FPS
ultra36 FPS43 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetRyzen 5 3500XRyzen 7 5700X
1080p
low329 FPS649 FPS
medium329 FPS549 FPS
high327 FPS448 FPS
ultra294 FPS404 FPS
1440p
low329 FPS552 FPS
medium329 FPS484 FPS
high298 FPS407 FPS
ultra263 FPS350 FPS
4K
low286 FPS343 FPS
medium249 FPS303 FPS
high221 FPS277 FPS
ultra198 FPS245 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetRyzen 5 3500XRyzen 7 5700X
1080p
low329 FPS665 FPS
medium329 FPS557 FPS
high329 FPS509 FPS
ultra329 FPS439 FPS
1440p
low329 FPS554 FPS
medium329 FPS458 FPS
high329 FPS419 FPS
ultra301 FPS358 FPS
4K
low309 FPS402 FPS
medium243 FPS322 FPS
high204 FPS292 FPS
ultra160 FPS229 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetRyzen 5 3500XRyzen 7 5700X
1080p
low329 FPS665 FPS
medium329 FPS665 FPS
high329 FPS665 FPS
ultra329 FPS665 FPS
1440p
low329 FPS665 FPS
medium329 FPS665 FPS
high329 FPS607 FPS
ultra329 FPS533 FPS
4K
low329 FPS545 FPS
medium329 FPS488 FPS
high329 FPS439 FPS
ultra329 FPS385 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 3500X and Ryzen 7 5700X

AMD

Ryzen 5 3500X

The Ryzen 5 3500X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 24 September 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 6 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 4.1 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm, 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 13,165 points. Launch price was $149.

AMD

Ryzen 7 5700X

The Ryzen 7 5700X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 4 April 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 4.6 GHz. L3 cache: 32 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 26,609 points. Launch price was $299.

Processing Power

The Ryzen 5 3500X packs 6 cores / 6 threads, while the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 8 cores / 16 threads — the Ryzen 7 5700X has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.1 GHz on the Ryzen 5 3500X versus 4.6 GHz on the Ryzen 7 5700X — a 11.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 7 5700X (base: 3.6 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Ryzen 5 3500X uses the Matisse (2019−2020) architecture (7 nm, 12 nm), while the Ryzen 7 5700X uses Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 3500X scores 13,165 against the Ryzen 7 5700X's 26,609 — a 67.6% lead for the Ryzen 7 5700X. Both processors carry 32 MB (total) of L3 cache.

FeatureRyzen 5 3500XRyzen 7 5700X
Cores / Threads
6 / 6
8 / 16+33%
Boost Clock
4.1 GHz
4.6 GHz+12%
Base Clock
3.6 GHz+6%
3.4 GHz
L3 Cache
32 MB (total)
32 MB (total)
L2 Cache
512K (per core)
512K (per core)
Process
7 nm, 12 nm
7 nm
Architecture
Matisse (2019−2020)
Vermeer (Zen 3) (2020−2022)
PassMark
13,165
26,609+102%
Cinebench R23 Multi
14,000
Geekbench 6 Single
2,116
Geekbench 6 Multi
9,715
🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 4.0. Both support up to DDR4-3200 memory speed. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 24 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: AMD 500 series,AMD 400 series (Ryzen 5 3500X) and A320,B350,X370,B450,X470,B550,X570 (Ryzen 7 5700X).

FeatureRyzen 5 3500XRyzen 7 5700X
Socket
AM4
AM4
PCIe Generation
PCIe 4.0
PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed
DDR4-3200
DDR4-3200
Max RAM Capacity
128 GB
128 GB
RAM Channels
2
2
ECC Support
Yes
Yes
PCIe Lanes
24
24
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Ryzen 5 3500X) / AMD-V (Ryzen 7 5700X). Primary use case: Ryzen 7 5700X targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Ryzen 7 5700X rivals Core i7-11700K.

FeatureRyzen 5 3500XRyzen 7 5700X
Integrated GPU
No
No
Unlocked
Yes
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
AMD-V
Target Use
Gaming
💰

Value Analysis

The Ryzen 5 3500X launched at $155 MSRP, while the Ryzen 7 5700X debuted at $299. On MSRP ($155 vs $299), the Ryzen 5 3500X is $144 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Ryzen 5 3500X delivers 84.9 pts/$ vs 89.0 pts/$ for the Ryzen 7 5700X — making the Ryzen 7 5700X the 4.7% better value option.

FeatureRyzen 5 3500XRyzen 7 5700X
MSRP
$155-48%
$299
Performance per Dollar
84.9
89.0+5%
Release Date
2019
2022